A Brief Diversion

No, I have not abandoned the lineage stories, but am taking a brief hiatus to pay homage to MERCY OTIS WARREN. At the same time I am heading a FaceBook group called Mercy Otis Warren, Poet, Patriot
A truly remarkable woman from Plymouth’s past at the time of the American Revolution - Mercy Otis Warren, wife of General James Warren, mother of five sons. An accomplished housewife and needlewoman, she was also the author of poetry, political satire, a proposed Bill of Rights for the new Constitution and a 2 volume history of the American Revolution.

James and Mercy Warren and their dear friends John and Abigail Adams have left an indelible mark on their time, a valuable resource in their correspondence and activities during those troublesome years.

As I look through the published and non-published writings, and the biographies of this remarkable woman, perhaps it should start here in Plymouth at the corner of North Street and Main with the fine gambrel-roofed house, significant for its associations in early American history, her town house home following her marriage.

Mercy Otis’early years in Barnstable were not of the ordinary - her father James Otis was a man of intellectual habits and he encouraged awareness among his children as he included them in discussion and debate of subjects political and newsworthy at table and at fireside. James Otis was politically a Whig and Presiding Justice of the District Court. He sought culture for its own sake.
Her two older brothers were to be educated for the law at Harvard in Cambridge and Mercy was permitted to join in their studies, although the formal Greek and Latin were not deemed necessary. Not surprisingly, however, she was able to read Virgil and Homer in translation while brother James was plodding through the volumes in their original language. She read the work of Pope, Dryden, Milton, Shakespeare and Raleigh. Conversations and discussion of the ancients was a constant delight and a bond with Jemmie.
At an early age, the poetry of the ancients became a part of Mercy as did their histories. She learned the art of writing from their uncle and instructor, the Rev, Jonathan Russell who wrote his sermons beforehand - and on the Sabbath day she would hear those literary arts sounding as music.

. . .to be continued . . .

More Delorey Generations

WILLIAM & ANNE (PAROU)DES LAURIERS
5th Generation

William Des Lauriers, a seaman, was known also as Benoni. He was born 6 June 1816 in Tracadie, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. His marriage to Anne Parou (Perrault) took place in 1839. She was born 31 October 1816, also in Tracadie, the daughter of Louis & Isabelle (Mathe) Parou.
Their children were:
Louis: b abt 1841; d 1 Sep 1867 Pictou, Antigonish, NS
Honore: d 10 Sep 1866; m. Annie Broderick
William: b Jan 1841; m. Elizabeth Deslauriers;m...2. Marie Benoit
Anne: b 21 Sep 1842; m. Joseph Pettipas
* Joseph (Joshua) (Joachim): b 5 Jan 1845
Charles: b 8 Oct 1846
Philistin: b 17 Apr 1849; m. Mary-Margaret Deslauriers;m.2. Marie Marguerite Deslauriers.

William left this life 29 October 1875 in Tracadie. His wife Anne survived him, passing on 11 March 1890 at Weymouth, Massachusetts.


JOSEPH & MARGARET (GRANT) DELOREY
6th Generation

You have met them before and already have seen two photographs of Joseph and Margaret, the first at the time of their marriage in 1867, and a wonderful family photograph with eight of their children in 1892 (posted in February of this year).
This one will serve to link Joseph and his son William Louis, next in my husband’s lineage. It was taken about 1880 in Elizabethport, New Jersey.

This brings us to William Louis Delorey's generation (7) in the posts that will follow.Lots of photographs for Williams children remembered fondly that their father loved to have photographs of his family, both individually and in groups.

THE DELOREY LINEAGE: From Thomas on . . .

The chronology of travels for our third generation was an illustration of the fact that even in the military, families were families, and moved together . . . but it did omit a few points . . . . .
Thomas & Marguerite (Segouin) Jacquet dit Delorier
3rd Generation, cont.

Thomas Jacquet was born b 17 Nov 1725 Rouens, Normandy, France. Once in New France he did adopt the dit name of Delorier which continued to be used in succeeding generations with a variety of spellings.

His marriage took place in Laveltrie, Bertier, Quebec on 19 Jun 1752 to Marguerite Segouin. She was born 2 Dec 1727 at St Sulpice J’Assomption, Quebec, the daughter of Jean-Germain & Marie-Louise (Quay) Sigouin
Their children:
Nicolas: born 16 Apr 1753, married Madeleine LeBlanc
Charles-George: born 9 Mar 1755; married Francoise Sauvage
Marie-Marguerite: born 24 Dec 1756
Alexandre: born 17 May 1759
*Jean-Baptiste: born 18 Aug 1763; married Anne- Agnes Coste
Alexis: born 18 Jan 1765; married Agnes Pitre
Benjamin-Thomas: born 19 Jun 1771; married Felicite Gautrot

JEAN-BAPTISTE & MADELEINE (LANDRY) JACQUET dit DESLORIERS
4th Generation

Jean-Baptiste was a farmer. Born at Ile-Dupas, Berthier, Quebec on 19 August 1763, he married twice. His first wife was Ann Coste, the daughter of Claude & Marguerite (Vigneau) Coste. Married about 1783 their children were Jean-Baptiste, Marie, Anne, Joseph, Susanne, Felicien. Following the death of Ann, Jean-Baptiste took a second wife.

That second wife was Madeleine Landry the daughter of Jean-Baptiste & Anne-Josephe (Pitre) Landry who was born in Pisquid, Acadia, Nova Scotia. Jean-Baptiste & Madeleine had more children:
Hilarion: born about 1802; married Marguerite D’Orly
Anne: born 25 Jun 1811; married Pierre Perrault
Marguerite: born 12 Oct 1813;m1. Jean D’Orly;m2. Pierre Bonnevie; m.3. Victor Gautrot
*William (Benoni): born 6 Jun 1816 ; m. Anne Parou
Marie-Sophie: born 12 Nov 1818; m. Policarpe Girouard
Honore: born 10 Oct 1820; m. Marie Riley

Jean-Baptiste departed this life in Tracadie, Nova Scotia about 1840. Madeleine had preceeded him about 1831.

to be continued . . . . . . . . .

JACQUET dit DELOREY

As in many families, you will notice the spelling of the name changes over years and even within generations. The dit names in French Canadian lineage are for the use of identifying those of similar names. Sometimes the families continued the dit name, others reverted to the original.
1st Generation
Martial (born abt 1664) & Marie (Rouchault) Jacquet: they were married at St-Marie-la-Petite, Rouens, Normandie, France
2nd Generation
Jean (1864 Rouens)& Marie-Catherine (Gaufre) Jacquet dit Desloriers: they were married on 29 April 1721, in St-Marie-la-Petite, Rouens, Normandie, France. Their children were: Ann Francoise, Marie- Jeanne, Jean- Francois, * Thomas,Joseph Louis Melon

THOMAS JACQUET dit DELORIER
3rd Generation

A Chronology of His Life & Travels (against a background of events) : Thomas Jacquet who enlisted in the French Troop, went to Canada and took a dit name.

18 Nov 1725: Baptized at St-Marie-la-Petite, Rouen, Normandy, France
1748: Beginning of the French & Indian War
19 Jun 1752: Married at Lavaltre, Berthier, Quebec
16 Apr 1753: First child (Jacques-Thomas) born at Trois-Riviers, St-Maurice
15 May 1753: Bought a house from J-B-Henri Berange officer in the Marine
25 May 1753: Sold a house to Simon Clapier Serg. Co. Dumas
12 Jan 1754: Bought a house from mother in law
May 1754: Washington fired on the French; Jul 1754: Washington surrenders Fort Necessity
30 Aug 1754: Rented house to Joseph Godfrey
9 Mar 1755: Second child (Charles-Georges)born at Trois-Rivieres, St-Maurice, Quebec
7 Jul 1755: Rented house to Michel Leclair (Louis Pillard)
Jun 1755: Ft. Beausejour surrenders to the British; Jul 1755: French defeat Gen Braddock; Dec 1755: Battle of Lake George; May 1756: England declares war on France
Aug 1756: Ft. Oswego surrenders to the French
24 Dec 1756: Third child (Marie-Marguerite) born at Lanorie, Berthier, Canada
Mar 1757: French attack F. William Henry; Aug 1757: British abandon Louisburg; Aug 1757:French capture F. William Henry.
6 Oct 1757: Sold land in St-Jean-Baptiste, while at Chambly, Quebec
Jul 1758: French repel attack on F. Ticonderoga; Jul 1758: F. Louisburg surrenders to the British; Aug 1758: British capture F. Frontenac; Nov 1758: French abandon F. Duquesne
17 May 1759: Fourth child (Jacques-Antoine) born at F. Chambly, Quebec
Jul 1759: British capture F. Niagara; Jul 1959: British capture F. Ticonderoga; Sep 1759: Battle on the Plains of Abraham, Quebec; Sep 1759: Quebec City surrenders to the British; April 1760; French victory at Ste-Foy; Sep 1760: French surrender Canada.
12 Jul 1761: Fifth child (Alexandre) born Ile-Dupas, Berthier, Quebec
Aug 1762: Havana surrenders to the British; Feb 1763: Treaty of Paris ends the War.
18 Aug 1763: Sixth child (Jean-Baptiste) born Ile-Dupas, Berthhier, Quebec
18 Jan 1765: Seventh child (Alexis) born at Berthier-en-Haut, (Berthierville), Berthier, Quebec
19 Jan 1771: Eighth and last child (Thomas) born at Arichat., Richmond, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

After the fall of Quebec in 1760 in order to stay in the country, he retired from the army. After a stay of a few years in Arichat, Nova Scotia, the Jacquets, now called DesLauriers, settled at Fortune Bay on the Isle Saint-Jean (today P.E.I.)
Tradition says they built a schooner, then in 1787 some members of the family obtained a land grant, in the amount of 700 acres, in the port of Tracadie, Nova Scotia, which from then on became the main location for the family. The five sons married, produced 25 sons.

The last reference we have to Thomas Jacquet dit Delorier was - that around the time of the French Revolution it is said that Thomas Jaquet returned to France to claim an inheritance and was never heard from again.

LOOKING FOR:

Military assignments/duties
Acadian land grant information, deeds: dates
Personal, anecdotal information.

Succeeding generations to follow . . . . . (as they usually do ) . . . . .

Robert Archibald and Gladys Vivian (Blanchard) VanAmburg

Ninth Generation - continued . . .



Robert Archibald VanAmburg and Gladys Vivian Blanchard were married in Malden, Massachusetts on the 26th day of June 1928 by Rev David W. Witte.
The children:
Barbara Mae: 5 May 1929, Melrose, Massachusetts
Robert Walter: 12 Dec 1931, Medford
James Arthur: 23 Aug



Not just a house - a home: with the first purchase in Medford, Massachusetts on Whitney Road , May 1930 at a cost of $8,400.

Their next was built in Lynnfield Center.

Retiring in the 70’s Bob and Gladys moved back to Cape Sable Island to the house he inherited from his mother, Mae (Nickerson) VanAmburg:James L. Nickerson built this, the postoffice was on the ground floor, right front,
a small grocery store on the left. When J. L. turned the running of his Sea View Hotel in Clarks Harbor over to his son (Mae’s brother) Robert; he and Ruth moved across the street to the second floor living quarters, as did Mae and Jim later, and then Bob and Gladys.

As Bob’s health diminished they bought house and land in Acadia, near Yarmouth Airport, in order to be nearer to medical facilities, Dad had his workroom in the over-sized garage, and with the help of a dear friend nearby, they farmed several large plots of vegetables and berries - food for the table!

Robert Archibald and Gladys Vivian (Blanchard) VanAmburg

Ninth Generation - continued . . . . .


Gladys Vivian (Blanchard) VanAmburg was born in Franklin, New Hampshire - 23 Jan 1906; she left this life shortly after her 97th birthday, 30 Jan 2003, in Brockton,
Massachusetts. She aged gracefully, the above photograph was taken following her 94th (or 95th birthday).

AND I RECALL:
Yes, she was a happy lady, one who made her own happiness, one who never swore or said an unkind word about anyone. Though she never was able to complete her high school education, she wrote like the intelligent and perceptive woman that she was, and had items and continuing articles published . In recounting her childhood, she had to leave school when her father left the family and she was needed to help in their support.

I recall the mandolin she had and had played as a younger woman, her talents have shown in many ways over the years. She spoke of dancing “Apache” with a young man, Wally Brown, who later achieved a certain renown as a vaudevillian, comedian, and a movie star in Hollywood. This was in Malden, Massachusetts prior to 1926.

What she referred to in her very old age as her “life line” was the fun she had in designing greeting cards, water color , an off-shoot of paintings in oils and acrylics that she had done earlier.

As a small child, it was a delight for me to come home from grade school and find a new dress she had made for me, handsewn, she never had a sewing machine. I especially remember one with small blue flowers on a white ground with blue looped fagotting at the neckline. And then the afternoon when following naptime on Mom’s big bed, I thought she would be quite proud and amazed to see how beautiful I would look, dressed in one of her nice dresses, and wearing her makeup. (oops! She was NOT). Many stories and events, including my getting stuck to the floor (a mini-tanrum?), going on a trip to Boston without bothering to put on my panties, were all a part of those childhood years, and her amazing patience with a pesky daughter.
Mom was as good a shot with rifle and pistol as my Dad was, and she looked very dashing in competition matches dressed in jodphurs & shooting jacket, that was in the 1930s,40s. I have some of Dad’s medals, but Mom eventually discarded hers. As she often said - memories were more important to her than things.

to be continued . . . Marriage . . . and some miscellanea

Robert Archibald and Gladys Vivian (Blanchard) VanAmburg

Ninth Generation


ROBERT ARCHIBALD VANAMBURG was the only child of Mae and James F. VanAmburg. He was born in Clarks Harbor 6 Nov 1904 and died 22 July 1991 at Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Nova Scotia

He graduated from Everett (Massachusetts) High School in 1924; studied Radio Apparatus-Theory & Design at MIT. Also courses in Photo-Engraving at Wentworth Institute, and Business Management at Boston University. He worked at Lever Brothers Company 1925-1950, first in the laboratory developing standard tests for textiles (where he patented a device for testing tensile strength of rayon fabrics while emersed); he went on as an Industrial Engineer, installation of mechanical & electronic devices in production and quality control. He was also official photographer for Lever publications, and for newspaper & magazine advertising. He left when the company moved their operations out of state and worked as office manager for the Boston Filter Company, 1950-1970. When he retired, they sold the Lynnfield, Massachusetts home and took up residence in the Cape Sable Island family home.

An avid hunter, target and competition shooter, both rifle and pistol, he was a life member of the National Rifle Association. Followed a family tradition of boat building, and began a new family tradition of photography. In 1923 he photographed the landscape view of Clarks Harbor when he visited his grandmother & grandfather (James L. & Ruth). In 1985 he duplicated the view from a vantage point on the government wharf. This shows 32 years of both change and preservation. The two photographs appeared in the 1986 publication “Our Island Reminisces” and are in the collection of the Archelaus Smith Historical Society Museum on Cape Sable Island


AND I RECALL:
Going to the gun club and shooting the Savage .22 rifle (in prone position, I was a very small pre-schooler). When older, I helped to score Jr. NRA targets on the dining room table. I don’t recall his title in those early days, but he was a district officer for NRA. Going duck hunting, when I was old enough to shoot offhand, cold, wet but exciting.
I’ve already told you about the darkroom photo developing, and the other job I assisted Dad on was reloading ammunition.
I made several trips to Clarks Harbor for vists, and when Mom and Dad moved to Acadia (near Yarmouth Airport) it was often to help Mom, as age and illness took its toll on Dad. The last trip before his death was poignant and yet a wonderful memory. Mom and I went to the hospital, late Sunday afternoon, sitting in his chair, Dad looked up at us and smiled, pointed to the far corner. “Look at Tiger over there, I’ve been watching him - - that cat is getting so lazy, and he still tries to chase things around. He’s such a little mischief.” He chuckled and smiled contentedly. They called us at 7 the next morning to tell us that Dad had passed away in the night.

to be continued - Gladys Vivian (Blanchard) VanAmburg, my Mom.

James Forman and Mae Estelle (Nickerson) VanAmburg

Eighth Generation You already have met Jim and Mae (my Nana & Pampa) in 3 blogs that are archived and can be reached from this page. They include their wedding, the sea captain’s exploits and since there are more stories to tell, I will take the liberty of doing just that!

First a post script to the story of “Cable or Catch” from a transcribed audio tape made by Jim’s son Robert:

“Owners responsible made the captain deduct the expenses of ship’s lost gear, food, etc. One time off the coast, Georges Bank a little further south, trawling, they pulled the Atlantic cable, nets were snarled, James as Captain ordered crew to take an axe and cut the cable, men refused one by one, James took the axe and cut the cable, saving the equipment to the tune of several thousands of dollars. Saved the trip. He couldn’t say it was mutiny.”
Also: “ he told me, regretfully of being in a hayfield, cutting, saw a fox cross the meadow to the shore, ran down with a pitchfork, killed the fox and always regretted it (no reason why he should have, but he did.)
And the first time he ever heard his father swear: Lenley had a cow, very young and temperamental, Sunday morning James was in the barn to milk the cow, got half a pail of milk when she put her foot in the pail, kicked James and sent him flying into a pile of manure, he swore like nothing ever heard before, said she can’t get away with that, went back in and milked the cow.

AND I RECALL:
Mae Estelle (Nickerson) VanAmburg, my Nana Van, was a very unusual woman. She was erect in posture, even in her old age. Calm of nature I never ever heard a cross word from her - rather a mild reproof - (to her son) “now . . . Robert.” or a nod of her head, and that was all that was ever required. We used to play duets on the piano and sing our hearts out - “Oh where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy - - oh where have you been Charming Billy? I have been to seek a wife, she’s the darling of my life - she’s a young thing but cannot leave her mother”
The Nova Scotia and Massachusetts families often visited back and forth and Nana and Pampa made their home with us in Medford, Massachusetts on two occasions. Their Cape Sable Island property was home to three generations (J.L. & Ruth Nickerson, Mae & Jim VanAmburg, and upon his retirement, my father & mother, Robert & Gladys VanAmburg, whose story will follow.
But back to Mae: An adventure when a younger woman, as told in a letter from her father (J.L. Nickerson to his wife Ruth when she was away assisting in the birth of a new grandchild):

“I arived home on Tuesday in time to put up the Mail and May was glad to see me as the office work took all her time she got along all right with but very few mistakes one thing she did do she not only put the money order money in the Bank but all I had with it She thought that all that was in the safe belonged to the money order business but as it happened she had payed some Money orders so I was able to balance the account.”
“ Jim (Mae’s husband) came home Friday evening an all the Crew left to spend Christmas no doubt he will lose 2 or 3 days fishing on account of it. . . . . dont worry about the work home if May wants the help I will get it “

Interesting because it is a very small vignette of family life and I have recently received more family letters with mini-looks at life as it was in the first quarter of the 20th century on Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia.

James Lenley and Eliza (Kenney) VanAmburg

Seventh Generation
James Lenley VanAmburg was born (a twin) 8 Sep 1856 in Pubnico, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia. He married Eliza Kenney on 8 Feb 1876. She was born 14 Dec 1858, the daughter of Levi Kenney.
Their children:
* James Forman: b 1876
Clifford: b 1879; d 1955; m. Alice Stanlake (ch Eugene, Alice, Earl, Pauline)
Ardella: b 12 Sep 1880; m. William Seeley
Rupert Lee: b 1883 Clarks Harbor; d 1962; m. Nellie Spinney
Hildred: b 1893; d 1932
Edwin Rivers: b 4 Apri 1889; d 9 Jan 1928
Anita:
Eva: b 22 Aug 1886; d 2 Jan 1968; m. Dolph Spinney
Short and of a stocky build, James Lenley “Len” VanAmburg was a sea captain. Shipwrecked in the Caribbean, he was given up for lost for almost a year before he returned.

They moved from Cape Sable Island in 1891 and lived in a house on what was to become Ardnamurchin Club property. It has been called the “old homestead” and then they moved to the house in the photograph above. The “old homestead” property was sold by Len to a family group from New York and Philadelphia. (The Ardnamurchin Club facilities are expanded and still in operation.) Len was handy with tools and built several small boats, dory type row boats.

Eliza (Kenney) VanAmburg left this life 28 March 1906, at age 46.
James Lenley VanAmburg, died in his home, 25 Feb 1909, 55 years. Both are buried in Mt. PLeasant Cemetery, Argyle, Nova Scotia.
.

Ebenezer and Abigail (Goodwin) VanAmburg

Sixth Generation

Ebenezer VanAmburg was born about 1836. His marriage was to Abigail Goodwin. She was the daughter of John and Anna (Nickerson) Goodwin.

Their children wereborn in Pubnico, Nova Scotia:
* James Lenley: b 8 Sep 1855
Orlando: b 8 Sep 1855; d 17 Aug 1929; m. Lucetta
John:Ebenezer & Abigail both died in 1862

AND I RECALL:
From Orlando’s daughter, Helen (VanAmburg) Morton -

“Í have heard my Dad say that his father & mother died when he was 7 years old, and he lived with an uncle until 10 years old, he had learned to dress fish on a boat by that uncle. When 10 he borrowed 5 dollars to pay his passage to Boston or Gloucester, I forget which. He was hired by a gruff old sea captain. What about the rest of the family? I don’t know. And about the uncle’s family & did he have other uncles or aunts. Relatives but can’t remember the connection. In Dad’s family there was Uncle Len [Orlando’s twin brother James Lenley, my great-grandfather], I think another brother, Johnny? and aunt Belle Goodwin who had 2 children, Elva and Erland who at one time lived where Uncle Len died, across from Seeley house.

[Arg yle, Nova Scotia]

Abraham & Susanna (Goodwin) VanAmburg

Fifth Generation
Abraham VanAmburg, with a brother & sister were baptised on the same day, 5 Oct 1804. As to the dates of birth, we have not yet been able to find any information. This is a case of research in genealogy that is ongoing.

His marriage was to Sarah Goodwin who was born 1 August 1800. She was the daughter of Thomas and Susanna (Cray) Goodwin.
Their children:
* Ebenezer:
Lydia: d 24 Oct 1876; m. 22 Dec 1859 Thomas H. Goodwin

AND I RECALL:
As in the case of many families originally from the Netherlands there has been repetition of given names, obviously continued through the preceding generations listed in this blog. Determining the fourth generation link among the brothers was not with firm enough documentation as will satisfy all, however we have concluded that, given present information, John and his wife Lidia is correct. . . . and there is always more to be learned.

John and Lidia (___) VanEmburgh

Fourth Generation

Born 8 October and baptised 4 Nov 1751, Johannes was to be better known as John. Little is known about Lidia.
Their children were baptised in Christ Church, Shelburne, Nova Scotia by Rev. Thomas B. Howland.
Nelly: bap 15 June 1796;m. David White
James: bap 16 Sep 1798
*Abraham: bap 5 Oct 1804
Joshua: bap 5 Oct 1804
Lydia: bap 5 Oct 1804
When the brothers left NewJersey aboard ship to Nova Scotia (as loyalists) John was single. There is more to be learned about these men.
Some have surmised that John VanEmburgh married late in life and that he may have died shortly before 1804.

Guisbert & Annetie (VanWinkle) VanEmburgh

Third Generation

Guisbert VanEmburgh , born in New York about 1710 removed to New Barbadoes, in Bergen Co, New Jersey. His first marriage was to Maria Hellakers.

His second marriage took place in Belleville, New Jersey on 25 April 1732 - to Annetie VanWinkle, the daughter of Gideon & Jannetie (Koeymans) VanWinkle.
Their children :
“Births from Register of children who have been baptised at Second River by me Henricus Coens preacher at Aliquignonk, Second River and the north which commences in the month of June of the year 1727”
Gideon: b 24 Nov; bap 14 Dec 1735
Abraham: b 1736/7 New Barbados, NJ ; m. Annetie Roosencrans
Guisbert: b 28 May; bap 17 Jun 1739
Simeon: b 9 Mar; bap 5 Apr 1740; stayed in NJ
Elizabeth: b 15 Jul; bap 16 Aug 1741
*Johannes: b 8 Oct; bap 4 Nov 1751
Adoniah

From the will of Gysbert VanEmburgh of New Barbadoes, dated 3 May 1760:

wife Ann to remain in the house in which I live at New Barbadoes Neck, and to have the use of lands for 7 years, to maintain my children. Son, Abraham, ½ my land where I live, that is next to Col. John Schuyler. My 3 sons, Gysbert, Simeon & Jacob, the other ½. Executors - my said sons. Witesses, John Schuyler, Abraham Pire, Samuel Brown: Codicil: All my land which I have at Hackensack to be sold, and the money applied for the use of my three children Elizabeth, John & Adoniah.

Proved 26 Jul 1762. Inventory made by Abraham Van Ripe and Garrabrant Garrabrants.

Johannes & Catherine (Sandford) VanImbroch

Second Generation

Johannes VanImbroch was born in 1661 in Beverwyck (Albany) New York; he died in Hackensack, New Jersey, where he is said to have erected the first dwelling house. He was a “Doctor of Physick”, Bergen County.
He married first, 28 Sep 1687, Margrietie VanSchaik.

His second marriage was to Catherine Sandford, in 1689.
She was the daughter of Captain William & Sarah (Whartman) Sandford, who came from Barbadoes about 1688 having obtained a grant of land between the Passaic & Hackensack in East New Jersey.

Their nine children
*Gysbert: b about 1710;m . Maria Hellakers;m.2. Annetie VanWinkle
John:m. Ariaentje Coeymans
Peregine; m. Cornelia Provoost
William Sandford
Sarah: m. Spier (Pyr)
Rachel: m. John King (Koening)
Mary: m. John Sandford
Catherine: m. Richard Gibbs
Elizabeth: m. Jacobus Bertholf
Catherine (Sandford) VanImbroch died about 1745 at New Barbadoes, New Jersey.

The VanAmburg Family -

(you will note the changes in the spelling of the name over years and even within generations)

Gysbert & Rachel (de la Montagne) VanImbroch
First Generation

Dr. Gysbert VanImbroch was born in the Netherlands in 1634. He arrived in Manhattan about 1652 where he was proprietor of a combination book, apothecary and general store. He was a doctor of medicine, a magistrate and a member of the Dutch Reformed Church.

Gysbert was married in 1656 at Fort Orange (Albany) New York to Rachel De La Montagne. Rachel, born in Leyden, Holland in 1634, was the daughter of Dr. Jean and Rachel (DeForest) De La Montagne. Their children were:
Jan: b 15 Mar 1654 New Amsterdam, now New York City
Lysbeth (Elizabeth): b 1659 Beverwyck ( Albany) d bef 1708;m. Johannes Peeck
*Johannes: b 1661 Beverwyck;m.1. Margrietie VanSchaik; m.2.Catherine Sandford
Gysbert: b 24 Aug 1664 Wiltwyck, now Kingston; m. 1688 Jannetje Messier

On 7 Jun 1663 the family was in Wiltwyck (Kingston) New York, when an attack on Wiltwyck & New Village (Hurley) was made by parties of Esopus Indians. New Village was completely destroyed but not Wiltwyck where 12 houses were burned. Captives were taken - 66 inhabitants missing: 21 dead (Mainly men) and 45 captive (mainly women and children), including Rachael VanImbroch.

It took 2 months to mount a force for the rescue of captives led by Martin Cregier of New Amsterdam. In the meantime Dr Jean de la Montagne (Rachel’s father) sent a band of five Mohawks from Fort Orange to rescue Rachel, which they did successfully by buying her from her captors. By the time the military party arrived Rachel was back in Wiltwyck ready to conduct the soldiers to the Indian Fort 30 miles to the southwest where the prisoners were kept.

They set forth on 26 Jul 1663 and reached the fort within a day to find it deserted. All had retreated into the Sawangunk mountains. Another month passed and the Indians were taken by surprise, many of them captured and 23 of the caprives recovered and brought back to Wiltwyck... Gysbert and Rachaell both died within two years of the Indian attack. Rachael died on 4 Oct 1664 and Dr VanImbroch on 29 Aug 1665.

Wiltwyck Court records state:

“Mr. VanImbroch on the same day of his death requested verbally and in writing that his estate should be inventoried and sealed up until the same time when friends from Manhattan should arrive for the purpose of then being done by them for the best interest of their minor children. . . . Therefore for this purpose were expressly sent off and have arrived here Jacob Kip and Willem Monjour DelaMontagne, both brothers-in-law of the deceased.”

The three guardians for the children appointed by the court were Jacob Kip, Willem de la Montagne and Willem Beeckman, scout at Wiltwyck. The inventory was detailed and showed considerable wealth. Since the “children’s house” was not sold until 1673 by Willem de la Montagne, the guardians may have arranged someone to look after the children in their own house. Willem de la Montagne moved to Wiltwyck to administer the estate and collect debts owed to Dr Van Imbroch, but he was given the use of the “village house” in his capacity as schoolmaster and voorleser and did not live with the children.

William Henry and Elizabeth (Johnson) Green

Seventh Generation

William Henry Green was born in New Hampshire in Nov 1857. His marriage to Elizabeth Johnson took place 27 Nov 1875, Joseph Gilman JP was the officiant.

Lizzie (as she was called) was the daughter of Cyrus and Betsy (Tuttle) Johnson. She was born 25 Jul 1853 and departed this life 13 Jun 1883 at the age of 29 having given birth to three children:
* Mabel Elizabeth: b 27 Jul 1876 Tamworth, NH
Edith M: b July 1878; d 12 Jan 1880
William: d 1883 w/mother in birth
William first appears in the records of 1779 owning one animal valued at $48, he paid taxes of $3.38. In 1880 (Tamworth) owning 1 ½ acres of land valued at $36; one scholar (his daughter Mabel). This was the last year he appears in these records.

William married again on 10 May 1884, Cora Etta Sweetser, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, both were 27 years old, There was no issue from their marriage, and there are still unanswered questions about both William and Lizzie and the preceding years.

In Sep 1883 Harriet Green conveyed a piece of land in Tamworth to her brother William, who sold this land 3 Nov 1892 to Lizzie’s brother Cyrus for $350. Cora Green, in the deed, released all interest to dower and homestead. Witnessed by Mabel Green (age abt 16) and Silas Deane, J.P.
The death of William Henry Green was the result of an accident while operating a box planer at Edward Perkins Lumber Mill, Newburyport, Massachusetts.

The Greens resided at 84 Purchase St, Newburyport. At his death, his assets consisted of “no real estate, $131.02 in a savings account and a US Liberty Loan Par Value $50. or a total of $181.02. When Cora died 9 years later she had an estate of $3,239.09 including marble clocks, black walnut table and over $2800 in the bank, plus the house and land in Newburyport valued at $3000. In 1928 Mabel (then Mabel Green Blanchard) received $1454.23 from the estate of her uncle Cyrus Johnson and no one in her family knew about it.

In Recall:
Mabel’s daughter Gladys remembers her Grandma and Grandpa Green(William & Cora)

I really know very little except that I had a nice visit each year for about three years with them. My mother would take me to the Malden Depot, put me on the train and the conductor was told I was to get off in Newburyport. My Grandfather always met me at the station and we went to his home on Purchase by street car. They did not have a car. Not too many people did at that time. That was about 1918. After Grandpa died, I believe Grandma Green still ran the little store. All I remember next was she became so ill and came to Malden and stayed at our house on Main Street ‘til she died. Both were very dear people and treated me so nice. I never knew Grandpa Green had any brothers or sisters. They never spoke of their relatives.

Mabel’s daughter Elva remembers Grammy Green (Cora)

She sent us packages all the time from her store. Boxes of candy and material for all my dresses. She was a wonderful mother toMom and a beautiful Grandmother. No mean stepmother. Gladys visited Newburyport during the time Grandpa lived and me, too, but I can’t remember how I got down there. I remember Grammy Green taking me to Plum Island for the day.

Thus seven generations with the Green name, then Blanchard, VanAmburg, Delorey.

Ansel Blossom & Harriet (Forest) Green

Sixth Generation

Ansel Blossom Green was born in Byron, Maine, 26 Oct 1818. When in his early 20s he went to Sanford, Maine, where he filed intentions in 1842 to marry Harriet Forrest of Eaton, New Hampshire. Born in 1820, Harriet was the daughter of Adams & Phebe (Banfield) Forrest of Madison, New Hampshire.(Her photograph taken in her old age.)
Their children:
Malinda F.: b 1846; d 10 Oct 1857 of scarlet fever aged 11 yrs 7 mos
Roscoe: b 1849
Harriet : b 1855; d 1928; m. Charles Clough
* William Henry: b Nov 1857

During the Civil War, Ansel enlisted in Co A 13th Rgt. Infantry, NH Volunteers. He was 44 years old, 5’9”, dark; a farmer; and a Madison resident (in the Old Parsonage-Ripley/Gilman place , 1850-60). “

The regiment consisted of 10 companies mustered 20 Sep 1862 at Camp Colby near Concord, NH. Moved to Camp Chase near Arlington Heights, Virginia, arriving 8 Oct 1862; became part of the 1st Brigade, Gen Silas Casey’s Provincial Div. known as the Defenses of Washington. Marched to Liverpool Point on the Potomic mid December then to Fredericksburg for the battle of Mary’s Heights. On 25 Dec, 400 of 1080 were fit for duty. Next sent to Newport News & Suffolk as part of Gen Getty’s Div. Battle and bayonet charge against Gen. Longstreet on May 1863 among others”.

He received a medical discharge 30 May 1863. September 1862 - he had suffered mental derangement, paralysis for 14 weeks.

They lived the rest of their lives in Carroll Co.New Hampshire. Ansel died in Tamworth, in 1870. Harriet departed this life 10 Jan 1891 in Madison, of pneumonia and both are buried in Chocorua Cemetery.

Jonas & Eunice (Bacon) Green

Fifth Generation
Jonas Green was born in Groton, Massachusetts 15 Oct 1767 - he was one of triplets. Two survived, (Jonas & Josiah.) Reuben died just two days after their birth.

It is uncertain just when and why Jonas decided to move to Maine, but it is recorded that his brother Josiah, was an early settler of Wilton, Maine, as was their father, Jonas. Wilton was settled by proprietors from Dunstable and Chelmsford, Massachusetts in the 1790s, and that would most likely be the time that the three men arrived in the area.

Records show little activity in town affairs by the Greens, however Jonas’ marriage intention was filed in January 1813 and his first child Lucinda was born in October of that year.

Jonas was 45 years old and his bride - Eunice Bacon of Vassalboro, (Kennebec, Maine) was 26 years of age.
Their children:
Lucinda: b 10 Oct 1813; m. Ivory Webber
Jonas: b 31 Mar 1816
Polly Burns: b 30 Jan 1817; m. James Leavy
* Ansel Blossom: b 26 Oct 1818
William King: b 12 Oct 1820; m . Maria Hunt
Oliver Perry: b 16 Aug 1822
Sarah Ann: b 29 Mar 1824; m. Luther Merrill, Jr.
Amanda: b 7 May 1826
Hiram Augustine: b 13 May 1828
Abiel Bacon: b 4 Mar 1830
Roscoe G: b 3 May 1830; m. Nancy J. ___
Flavilla: b 5 Nov 1834; m. Edwin Robbins
Chestina: b 15 Nov 1837; d 13 May 1839
1840 census records indicate that one of the children was deaf and dumb.

The family settled in Township 8, later called Byron, Oxford county, Maine, 30 miles north west of Wilton, for within a year Jonas had purchased 100 acres of land there from Benjamin Savin.

Though not much of events in Byron have been recorded, the fact that Jonas engaged in a considerable number of land transactions is attested to at the Paris, Maine registry of deeds, which show him actively buying and selling land right through the year of his death in 1854. Probate records indicate him as administrator of the will of his father-in-law, James Bacon, in 1833.

There was a Jonas Green’s Store in Byron, but it is not known whether his or his son’s.

In September 1845, in ill health, Jonas Green had written his last will and testament. He gave his wife, who survived him by only three years, the sole use of his farm during her lifetime. Upon her death the farm with all buildings, stock and tools was to go to his sons Hiram and Abiel. To his other children he left various sums of money ($10 to $15 each) to be paid upon the death of his wife.

Jonas Green died 6 Nov 1845 at age 78 and is buried in the village cemetery at Byron with his wife and six of their children. Eunice (Bacon) Green died in Byron on 28 Feb 1849 at age 54.
Possessions at Jonas’ death included a pair of oxen, six cows, five yearlings, six calves, one mare with a colt by her side, 28 sheep, 4 swine and a wagon & harness among other possessions. His will is signed in a very shaky hand.

Jonas & Jemima (Holden) Green

Fourth Generation

A military career of note began at age 24 when Jonas Green enlisted in Capt Humphrey Hobbs Company for Annapolis Royal, 28 May 1755 (removal of the French from Nova Scotia). This was prior to his first marriage.

His residence was listed as Pepperell in 1777, when he served as a private in Capt Brown’s Co., Col Michael Jackson’ Regt (The Bloody 8th Massachusetts) of the Continental Army from 4 Feb 1777 to 4 Feb 1780. He was 46 years of age - the Co. took part in action at Paoli, Germantown, Brandywine. On the muster rolls at Valley Forge 1777-1778, he was discharged 24 Oct 1779 with a disability -a musketball had passed through his body at Ticonderoga in 1777. He was awarded a monthly allowance of $1.66.


Born 15 Mar 1731, in Groton, Massachusetts, Jonas Green married twice - his first wife, Jemima Holden, was born 1 Jul 1732. They married 29 June 1758. She departed this life on 2 Mar 1772 (about 5 o’clock in the afternoon) aged 39 years, 7 months, 19 days, having given birth to 10 children in eleven years, including twins and triplets. Their children:
Betsy: b 23 Sep 1760
Nathaniel: b 31 Mar 1762 (twin)
Jonas: b 31 Mar 1762; d 2 Apr 1762 (twin)
Jemima: b 4 Mar 1764
Lydia: b 19 Oct 1765
* Jonas: b 15 Oct 1767 (triplet)
Josiah: b 15 Oct 1767 (triplet)
Reuben: b 15 Oct 1767; d 17 Oct 1767 (triplet)
Abigail:b 5 Sep 1769
Rachel: b 12 Jul 1771

The children’s parents were members of the Church of Christ in Groton. Church membership records dated 5 July 1761 listed Jonas and Jemima among “those that own the covenant”. The birth of their triplets was an unusual enough occurrence to merit a note to that effect in the early church records. The meeting house where the family went to worship was situated on land once owned by the first Green settler in Groton, Jonas’ great-grandfather, William.

Jonas’ second wife, Abigail Nevers, was born 7 Apr 1756, she was twenty-five years younger than her new husband. She, too, gave birth to 10 children over the next nineteen years:
Joshua: b 23 Aug 1776
Guy: b 23 Aug 1778 Tyngsborough, MA
Hannah: b 1 May 1780
Asa: b 31 Jan 1782
Jonathan: b 7 May 1784
Hannah: b 19 Feb 1786
Polly: b 2 Oct 1788
David: b 6 May 1791
Rebecca:b 19 Apr 1793
Nathaniel: b 10 Jul 1795

We presume the family removed to Maine between the years 1793 & 1795 as the record of Rebecca’s birth is in Groton & Nathaniel was born in Farmington in 1795. The Green family settled in Wilton, Maine.

Jonas Green died in 1814 in Wilton, Maine; he is buried in Red Schoolhouse Cemetery, West Farmington, Maine. (Many of the old graves were moved there from an old cemetery in Wilton near the Green Farm). Abigail Green died 1 Feb 1819.

William and Hannah (Holden) Green

Third Generation
William Green was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1669.
His marriage took place on 9 Mar 1727. to Hannah Holden.

Hannah was born in 1707, the daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Lawrence) Holden. Her father and two oldest brothers were held captive by Indians for almost two years.

The children of William and Hannah Greene:
William: b 25 Dec 1727,d 39 Nov 1809;m1 Ruth Colburn;2. Hannah Woods
Simeon: b 15 Sep 1729,16 Sep 1813;m.Marey Shattuck
* Jonas: b 15 Mar 1731;
Hannah: b 4 Dec 1732;m. Jeremiah Hobart
Abigail : b 18 May 1736;d 5 Mar 1766;m. John Sheple
Benjamin: 20 Aug 1739;d.23 Jan 1776 of sickness in the army; m. Ruth Keep
Nathaniel: b16 May 1742;13 Oct 1760 in army
Elizabeth: b 17 Jun 1745; d 31 Aug 1745

William Green died 7 May 1778. His will lists him as yeoman, and mentions bequests to his children:

William, 6 shillings 8 pence lawful money; to heirs of Benjamin, deceased, 6 shillings 8 pence like money; to Hannah Hobart 6 shillings 8 pense; to heirs of Abigail Sheple, deceased 6 shillings 8 pense - all to be paid in six months after his decease.

Item. I hereby order my old mare to be & remain on the Farm for the use of my wife and the family living in the house if my said Executrix after named shall think proper.
All the rest . . to my beloved wife, Hannah Green whom I hereby appoint sole executrix . . . . 1 June 1776 [signed X William Green his mark - the will probated 9 June 1778.]

Hannah died 3 Sep 1797, and she too left a will, dated 25 Dec 1793:

that once all debts be paid a bequest to her grandchildren, Jabez Green, Benjamin Green, Ruth Bradish, Edee Lakin, 6 shillings to be divided equally and paid within one year. To her childreen: Hannah Hobart - one half of my wearing apparell, and the other half tothe daughters of Abigail Sheple, deceased. The rest of her goods and estate to be divided and shared by sons William Green & Jonas Green, by daughter Hannah Hobart and heirs of daughter Abigail Sheple, deceased.
“Allowing my Grand Son Leonard Green, to have as Good a Share with the said William, Jonas, Hannah and the heirs of Abigail Sheple Deceased; as he would have had by Law if this will had never been made. Providing the Said Leonard Shall live to arrive to the age of Twenty one years. Excepting the ware-ing apparell. But if the said Leonard Should be taken away by Death before he arrives to the age of Twenty one years, then his part is to be equally divided between the afore mentioned heirs.”
[Her sons William & Jonas, Executors. She signed her name Hannah Green]

Both William & Hannah (Holden) Green are buried in Sec III North, of the Old Burying Ground in Groton.

I RECALL:
Questions raised by Hannah’s will and the mention of one particular “grandson” - Leonard. There is no documentation of a grandson by that name, however we note that at the time the will was written (1793), Leonard who had not reached age 21 would have to have been born after 1772. Jabez Green is listed as a grandson in the will but not on the updated list of grandchildren, also Ruth Bradish - so since Hannah’s son Benjamin Green (whose wife was Ruth) had two children mentioned by Hannah ( Benjamin & Ede) and they had three more children, names unknown - perhaps ? Ruth Bradish, Jabez Green and Leonard Green were theirs?????

Eleazor & Elizabeth (Prescott) Green

Meet the second generation of Greens

Eleazor Green was born 20 May 1672 Lancaster, Massachusetts. d 10 Sep 1731 Groton, Massachusetts.

In 1695 he married Elizabeth Prescott, the daughter of Jonas and Mary (Loker) Prescott. Her father was a blacksmith who often appeared in a coat of mail armor.

Their children were:
Eleazor: b 26 Jan 1696; d 18 Mar 1744 Groton;m. 8 Mar 1722 Anna Tarbell
daughter: b 29 Jan 1698; d 13 Feb 1698
* William: b 1699; d 7 May 1778; m. 9 Mar 1724 Hannah Holden
Jonathan: b 1702 Groton; m. 25 Feb 1725 Mary Lakin
Elizabeth:b 10 Jun 1704; chr 16 Feb 1706; m. ____ Ames
James: b 20 Jan 1708-9; m. Sarah Shattuck
Jacob: chr. 30 Jan 1709 Groton
Rebecca: b 1712; d 15 Feb 1854; m. 27 Jun 1732 Joel Parish
Isaac: b 10 Mar 1716; m. Martha Boyden
Abigail

Eleazor died 10 Sep 1737; Elizabeth died 18 Mar 1744, both in Groton, Massachusetts.

ALL ABOUT THE GREEN FAMILY

This time we will take a slightly different tack as we follow the Green family beginning with an early generation in the 17th century. A special thank you to Cuz Marilyn (Donahue) Christie, whose study of this family has added much to their story.

What we know of the family has its beginnings in Groton, Massachusetts, and as most early Massachusetts towns at one time encompassed what was later to become others, early Groton included Pepperell, Shirley, portions of Littleton, Dunstable, Harvard, Westwood and Nashua, NH.

William and Mary (Crispe) Green
Among the original proprietors was WILLIAM GREEN (1640- 1713) with a 14 acre right. His house lot of 17 acres was on both sides of the great country road. Their home was on the present site of Lawrence Academy and extended as far north as the road across Broad Meadows.

It is said in Groton history that

“In King William’s War, 1691-2, William Greene captained 11 men and their families in Garrison No. 1, south and east of West Parish Church.”

He was a constable in 1675 and surveyor in 1680.

He married Mary Crispe who bore eight children. She was born 20 May 1638 in Watertown, Massachusettts; and died after Jul 1713. I would include a bit about Mary's parents:

CRISPE, BENJAMIN: b abt 1615 Frisby, Lincolnshire, England d 5 Nov 1683 Groton, Massachusetts
m.1. bef 1637 Watertown, MA
____, BRIDGET: b abt 1614 killed by Indians 13 Mar 1676. They had six children
* Mary b 20 May 1638
m.2. after 1680
GOFF, JOANNA: widow of William Longley & sister of Thomas Goff
He was a mason. Deposed in 1656, age abt 45 years, that he was “a servant to Maj Gibbons 25 years agone”. He was in service to the major as early as 1629. In 1666 he sold to Thomas Boyden of Groton a dwelling with 7 acres & several other parcels of land amounting to 92 acres. He probably moved to Groton about that time and sold about 8 acres to William Green. Benjamin was a Groton resident from 1666 to 1680.. In 1682 he again sold land to W. Green and moved to Watertown where he remarried.

The children of William and Mary (Crispe) Green were:
Mary b 21 May 1661; d 11 Apr 1736; m. 6 Jul 1683 Daniel Cady
William b 13 Jul 1665
Anna b 12 May 1667
John b Mar 1669; m. Hannah ____
* Eleazer b 20 May 1672
Hannah b abt 1676; d 28 Jan 1682
Elizabeth b 11 Mar 1680 Groton, MA; m. John Cady
Hannah b 10 Feb 1683; m. Hezekiah Whitcombe
[the * before a child’s name indicates the next in lineal descent to our family]

JUDAH & ELIZABETH (SMITH) NICKERSON

Judah Nickerson is another one of John and Dorothy (James) Nickerson's 13 children.
Born at Woods Harbor 23 Jun 1801, he married Elizabeth Smith when she was 15 years old and he was 23 (May 6, 1824). He died 17 Feb 1895 at the age of 94. When he was 93his daughter found him down in the well, where he had descended to bring up the water bucket. Judah died 17 Feb 1895; Elizabeth d.10 Apr 1887

The house he built at Clarks Harbor, Nova Scotia, (the year he married Elizabeth) is noted for an unusual huge lion placed in the front yard in 1906 by his grandson, John Nickerson, a noted sculptor and the son of Thomas Newell Nickerson.
There were 13 children born to Judah and Elizabeth:
Zilpha: 6 Feb 1825 - 3 Feb 1898; m. Thomas Newell
Irene: 13 Aug 1827 - 3 Feb 1900; m. William B. Smith
Freeman: 25 Oct 1829 - 13 Aug 1892; m. Lucinda Smith
Ephraim: 26 Jun 1832 - 14 Sep 1915; m. Matilda Smith
Susan Jane:28 Nov 1834 - 27 Jan 1928; m. Lovitt Swim
Joshua: 19 Feb 1837 - 9 Dec 1902; m. Rebecca Brannen
Hannah: 1 May 1839 - 26 Mar 1862; m. Jeremiah Brannen
Edward G: 25 Apr 1841 - 13 May 1841
William Edward:16 Aug 1842 - Sep 1913; m. Sarah Penny
John P.G.: 11 Nov 1845 - 19 Mar 1931; m. Josephine Dobin
James Lendall:16 May 1847 - 5 Sep 1940; m. Ruth Smith
Matilda: 29 Jan 1850 - 2 Jul 1942; m. Robert Colquhoun
Thomas Newell:27 Jun 1853 - 16 Sep 1944 m. Judith Ann Nickerson

I RECALL:

As a small child I was awestruck by this huge stone lion but was more comfortable with the smaller sculptured dogs flanking the steps to my great grandfather's hotel. You can see one of them in this 1905 photograph of my father, Robert A. VanAmburg, with his mother, my beloverd Nana Van, Mae (Nickerson) VanAmburg.

JOHN CARY (1610-1681)

John Cary was born in Bristol, England, about 1610 and he was the son of William Cary, who was Sheriff of Bristol in 1599.

A manuscript written by his grandson says that John Cary was sent by his father to France to perfect his education and that while absent his father died. On returning to Somersetshire he disagreed with his brothers about the settlement of his father’s estate and compromised by receiving one hundred pounds as his portion. He immediately sailed for America in 1634.

He taught the first class in Latin in the Colony. It is said that he taught Elder Brewster the Hebrew.

At the age of 25 he settled first in Duxbury, Massachusetts but he was one of the first to migrate to Bridgewater, the first interior settlement in the old colony. Of the 56 who had shares only a few ever settled upon them. John Cary did. - he was Clerk of the Plantation, which was a kind of land company and in 1650 it began to be settled. On 3 June 1656 the General Court incorporated Duxbury New Plantation as Bridgewater.

John was married in June of 1644 to ELIZABETH GODFREY, the daughter of Francis Godfrey of Duxbury & Bridgewater who was a carpenter, bridge builder. They had six sons and six daughters.
Their home was a quarter mile east of the meeting house in West Bridgewater. The first town clerk of Bridgewater, he served from 1656 to 1681, the year of his death.

John was intelligent, well educated and public spirited.

His grave cannot be located, but the marker erected on his homestead in West Bridgewater, just a few rods from the home where he lived, was placed proudly by his descendants in 1904 and is there to this day.

THE CARY FAMILY - pre 1086

A First Look at their Ancient History - (Leading to my husband’s grandmother, Mabelle (Cary) Sewell).

It’s an interesting branch with the Cary Family found living in Kari Castle in Domes Day Book - 1086. For centuries the castle has existed only in history, but the town where it was located is known today as Castle Cary. It is in Somersetshire and twelve miles southeast from Wells. Cari was the family seat of the baron, a fortified place in the time of the Saxons. During the reign of Stephen (1136-1154) the barons were divided into two parties, the Lord of Cari opposed to the king. He made so much trouble that Stephen turned his whole attention to Castle Cari and took it. In 1153 it was besieged again and nearly ruined. The place is marked by an entrenched area of about two acres, called the camp. Implements of war and other relics have been dug up there. The church of All Saints is of the time of Henry VI, is built upon a hillock and is quite unique. Oliver Cromwell hacked away at it. The manor house stands on the east side of the street - a stately edifice. During the wanderings of Charles II after the battle of Worcester, 3 Sep 1651, when his army was defeated by Cromwell, the disguised king slept at Castle Cari on the night of September 16th.


As we follow the names and dates of this line we arrive at John Cary who was knighted: b abt 1350 Holway, Devonshire, England. He owned Cockington & Clovelly which he bought in 1390. On 5 Nov 1357 he was made Judge & Chief Baron of the Exchequer by King Richard II. He opposed the proceedings for procurators, in regard to his oath, to take King Richard’s resignation. When Richard II was put to death by Henry IV, Sir John’s lands and goods were confiscated. He was banished to Waterford, Ireland, for four years where he died about 1404. His offspring had careers of interest - one, James was a Lord Bishop and -

Robert Cary, who earned rank and arms from King Henry IV.

“In the beginning of the reign of Henry V a certain knight-errant of Arragon, having passed through diverse countries, and performed many feats of arms, to his high commendation, arrived here in England where he challenged any man of his rank and quality to make tryal of his valor and skill in arms. This challenge Sir Robert Cary accepted; between whom a cruel encounter and a long and doubtful combat was waged, in Smithfield, London. But at length this noble champion vanquished the presumtuous Arragonois; for which King Henry V. restored unto him good part of his father’s lands, which for his loyalty to King Richard II, he had been deprived of by King Henry IV; and authorized him to bear the arms of the knight of Arragon.

[The descendants of Robert now wear the arms of the Knight of Aragon - a silver shield with 3 roses on a bend sable, and take the swan for a crest, thus combining the two. "Arms -Argentum. Three roses of the field on a Bend sable. Crest - a swan ppr. Motto - Virtute Excerptae.


One of his grandsons was William Cary: a knight who fell in the battle of Tewkesbury, 1471, War of the Roses fighting under the banner of Lancaster.

The Carys were always staunch Royalists, even at the cost of their liberty, fortunes and lives. The Cockington Church & the Old Tor Church contain many tombs of the family.

And five generations later we meet JOHN CARY, the first to reach New England shores.
[to be continued]

The Delorey Family - 1927 - Salem

William & Emilie (Jodoin) Delorey

There are a couple of these wonderful dated family groups. This was early spring in 1927 at their home in Salem Massachusetts, and all are identified!

Top row L to R: Romeo, Elizabeth, Lillian, Beatrice, Ida & Charles.

Center row: William L., Emilie; Marie, George, J. Frank & J Frank Perkins Jr.

Bottom Row: Dorothy, George, Donald, Millie & Charlotte; Arthur, Arthur,Jr. & Doris;
Laura, Ruth, Jeff, Norman, & Robert Belliveau; and Robert J, Robert, Paul, and Amelia A. Mooney

William & Emelie (Jodoin) Delorey

You saw William first in the 1892 family photograph of his father and mother - Joseph and Margaret (Grant) Delorey. He was second from the right in the back row. Like his father, he was a blacksmith, and had an interesting career. He inherited the gold coin that his fether “Joe the blackmith” was given by Gen. U.S. Grant and wore it proudly on his watch chain. In New England and in Nova Scotia William was affectionately known as Willie Joe.

His wife, and mother of their thirteen children was Emelie Jodoin. They married in Nashua New Hampshire on 29 October 1889 at St-Francis-Xavier.

Emelie was a cousin of the Ledoux family in New Hampshire and was sent to live with them. She used to take care of a young Henry Ledoux. When she was 14 she started apprenticing in dressmaking with her aunt. I am told that she used to get $700 for a dress, and they made expensive, up-scale clothing. She had beautiful hands, and used them expressively when she spoke.

William Lewis(WILLIE-JOE)Delorey: b 16 Apr 1869 Tracadie, Antigonish, Nova Scotia; d 9 Apr 1947 Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts
m. 29 Oct 1889 St-Francis-Xavier, Nashua, Hillsboro, New Hampshire
Emelie Jodoin: b 6 Oc 1964 Swanton, Franklin, Vermont, the daughter of Dionysius (Denis) and Aglae (Bernier) Jodoin.. She is buried in St Joseph’s Cemetery, Nashua, NH;
William Joseph
Edmund Louis
George Alphonse
* Arthur Henri
Marie Rose Delma: m. Frank Perkins
Margaret Laura: m. Jeffrey Belleveau
Marie Emeilia Anna: m. Robert Mooney
Guillaume Charles
Lillian Clara: m. Edward Saulnier
Edmond Romeo: m.1Elizabeth Theriault; m.2.Ruth Hingston
Elizabethh Cathrine (Betty):b 24 May 1905; d 22 Mar 2002; m. Earl Owen
Ida Leah (Del): b 30 Oct 1906; d 4 Nov 1991; m. John Thomas Doranle
Beatrice, Gratia (Bea): b 6 Jan 1910; d 21 Feb 1987m. 1. John Coughlin; m.2. Edward Therialt

Dr. Arthur Henri Delorey, Sr. (1894-1968)

My Husband’s (Athur Henri Delorey, Jr.) Branch:

His father, Arthur Henri Delorey was a very talented man, a Doctor of Optometry, by profession. He invented and patented some tools of his trade. He spoke several languages. The French he learned from his parents, William L. and Emelie (Jodoin) Delorey, included both Parisian and Canadian. He also spoke Greek and Hebrew, and a smattering of other languages.

Active in Masonic Circles he was a Past Worshipful Master of Loyalty Lodge in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. He was a WWI Veteran of the US Army, and an active member of the American Legion. Also I.O.O.F.

He married Doris Cary Sewell in 1925 and they resided in Brockton at 476 Warren Ave from 1927-1928. Arthur worked at 172 Main St 1927-1933. They moved to Holbrook 1930; later in Lowell, then Jamaica Plain.

We will revisit him in later blogs.

Arthur Henri Delorey, Sr: b 18 Jun 1894 Nashua, New Hampshire; d 20 Apr 1968; bur Melrose Cemetery, Brockton, Massachusetts
Doris Cary Sewell: b 9 Feb 1904, Avon, Massachusetts; d 23 Sep 1996 Melrose, Massachusetts
and had two children
*Arthur, Jr. was born in 1926 and married Barbara M. VanAmburg;
Johanne Beverly, born 1934 and never married.

A Very Large Unidentified Family

Or is it a special group of people? AMAZING!

We know the photographer - Branner of Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia. We recognize his studio props, backdrops, furniture,and rugs because we see them in many of his photographs. It's one of those fascinating, frustrating pieces - but fun to examine.

What Do You Think?

Is This a Younger Joseph and Margaret?

It is always frustrating to see an interesting old photograph and not a clue as to who they might be. I asked my son if he could clear the spots and discoloration from this 140 year old print and he succeeded admirably.Thank you, Jon.

So here is a side-by side look. We know the couple on the right are Joseph and Margaret (Grant) Delorey. I'm more certain than ever that the other is a photograph of a younger Margaret and Joseph. What do you think?

Capt. James & Mae (Nickerson) VanAmburg

from several Nova Scotia newspapers

WEDDING BELLS
Jan. 1904
VanEmburg - Nickerson
The F. B. Church was filled to overflowing on Wednesday afternoon on the 27th, the occasion being the marriage of Miss May Estelle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Nickerson of this place to Capt. James F. VanEmburg of Central Argyle. The church was decorated with green and white.

The ceremony which was performed by Rev. A. H. McLeod took place beneath a floral bell suspended from the central arch of the church.

Promptly at five o’clock the bridal party entered the church to the strains of Mendelssohn’s wedding march played by Mrs. George Newell. The bride was given away by her father and was attended by her sister Miss Daisy and preceeded by her cousin little miss Abbie Nickerson as flower girl. The groom was supported by Mr. Robert A. Nickerson, brother of the bride. The bride’s dress was of white silk lansdowne with applique trimmings and veil. She carried a handsome bouquet of brideroses and English violets. The bridesmaid was attired in a dress of cream albatross trimmed with lace.
After the nuptial knot was securely tied a reception was given at her father’s residence to about 250 invited guests. An excellent collation was served and the evening passed very pleasantly.
The presents were numerous and valuable testifying to the popularity of the young couple. The choir, of which the bride has been the efficient organist for about eight years, accompanied their gift of a music rack with an address expressive of the esteem in which she is deservedly held by them. The Coast-Guard joins in congratulations to the young couple.

I RECALL:
You became acquainted with my grandfather, James F. VanAmburg, in my last 2 blogs - he was born 23 Oct 1876; d 27 Mar 1949 Clarks Harbor, Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia.
There will be more about them both in future posts, and especially about my Nana Van - Mae Estelle (Nickerson)VanAmburg who was b 1877; d May 1965.They had one child - Robert A. VanAmburg, my father.

CAPT. JAMES F. VANAMBURG

CABLE OR CATCH?Capt. James F. VanAmburg and a seagoing post-script

Even with the advent of transatlantic wireless, the cable line from Cape Cod, across the Atlantic to Brest was of war-time importance.

From “Cape Cod Pilot” by Jeremiah Diggs, published in 1937 we find the following:
“Again, at a crucial stage in the Italo-Ethiopian War, it (the cable) was bringing in widely awaited bulletins, and at that time Captain James VanAmburg of the fish dragger Andover was working in Cape waters when his net and steel lines became snared in the cable. The only way he could recover his gear, which is no small item in a fisherman’s equipment would have been to cut the cable. And the reason he didn’t do that was that he knew the whole western world was waiting to hear of the fortunes of war in Africa. He sailed away minus several hundred dollars of dredging gear.”

I RECALL
This has always been a familiar family story, though as passed down by my father (son of James VanAmburg) the ending was a bit different.

It was said that the loss of both gear and catch would be a hardship to owner and crew alike. He ordered the cable cut, the men hesitated, and he took the axe and cut it himself.

So - - what REALLY happened? Perhaps a story retold changes somewhat over a long period or perhaps not. Myth or Fact?

JAMES FORMAN VAN AMBURG- 1876-1949

From Gloucester Daily Times: Wednesday, January 15, 1908
MADE A FINE PASSAGE: Sch. Clintonia Here This Morning with Frozen Herring

Capt. James Vanamberg is entitled to wear the medal as the hustler from Newfoundland. Generally he has been in sch. Henry M. Stanley, and in that remarkable craft has made passages which has made the eyes of the old stick out with wonder. This trip he went in sch. Clintonia, one of the finest ever built, and when he started for home last Thursday forenoon, he meant to come flying and he did, for last evening at 7 o’clock he tied his craft up at the wharf of Orlando Merchant, in this harbor.
When the Clintonia started, about 30 others hoisted their mainsails together and all started off at the same time. The long legged craft began to dig right in from the start and that Capt “Jimmie” lost no time is shown by the fact that he was here last night and as yet nothing has put in appearance.
Capt. Vanamberg reports that about 30 sail of vessels, American and Nova Scotian, left together on Thursday forenoon, sch. Arkona being the first to get underway, followed by sch. Saladin off Canso, N.S. and since then had seen none of the herring fleet.
Up on the corner, when the boys heard that sch. Clintonia was in, they simply remarked, “Well, Jimmie always could do it,” and that meant a lot. As for Skipper Vanamberg himself, he wears the same sized hat that he always did and outside of being pleased to get home, there’s nothing to it with him.

JAMES FORMAN VANAMBURG: b 23 Oct 1876; d 27 Mar 1949 Clarks Harbor, Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia. He married at Clarks Harbor on 27 Jan 1904
MAE ESTELLE NICKERSON: b 1877; d May 1965.
He was a sea captain, commanding among others, the schooners Elizabeth Howard, Clintonia, Henry & Stanley, Esperantos, Gladys Thurber. He was known as the heaviest sail carrier out of Gloucester, it was said that his ship could be spotted by spars splintered, boom cracked, sails ragged. One of the few skippers to strike on Cape Sable and get off again. At one time he was washed overboard in a storm and the next wave put him back on the ship again. He never lost a ship. [dark hair, later snow white, blue eyes, 5’10”]

I RECALL

My beloved grandfather - I called him Pampa. A quiet, gentle man at home he was NOT when at sea. He and Nana Van were with us on Whitney Rd for a time, and he would come in from sea, open his bag, and put a very large live lobster on the kitchen floor in front of me. I would scream, jump, and run, laughing at the same time. He never learned to drive a car - my Dad once tried to teach him with questionable results - he ran up against a tree in the neighbors yard.

ARCHELAUS and ELIZABETH (NICKERSON) SMITH

ANOTHER BRANCH (with a Nickerson Connect)
Of the many descendants of Ralph Smith, Archelaus Smith was the first to take up habitation on Nova Scotian shores.

The family was the first of two to arrive on Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia around 1760. Archelaus was a man of imposing stature and capability, fisherman, tanner, shoemaker, surveyor, magistrate, exhorter, he was called a good, quiet, easy man and ”his gifts were a boon to the settlement”. Elizabeth had a more energetic temper and is described as a tall, masculine woman. Archelaus officiated at religious meetings and burials when there was no preacher in the settlement.

Their arrival was a bit eventful, for Archelaus had sent for his family to come from Cape Cod to Barrington. Owing to evil reports about the Indians, he sent a message to his wife to the contrary. However, as fate woulfd have it, as he departed through West Passage his wife and four children came in East Passage in Capt Eldad Nickerson’s vessel.

Fishermen at the head helped Mrs Smith, they made a log cabin and left what provisions they could. Storms prevented Archelaus return that winter with food and his house frame. The Indians helped her at times - and she fought off bears with firebrands.


SMITH, ARCHELAUS:
bap 23 Apr 1737 Chatham, Massachusetts; d 23 Apr 1821
m. 16 Jul 1752 by Rev Stephen Emery, Chatham
NICKERSON, ELIZABETH: b 15 May 1735 Chatham, MA; d 2 Apr 1828. She was the daughter of William (Redstockings) and Sarah (Covell) Nickerson.
Susannah b 1755; d 24 Apr 1827 Cape Sable Island;m. 1767 Joseph Atwood
Hezekiah b 1754; d 16 Feb 1834;m. abigail Doane
Mercy b 1758; d 1845;m. John E Cunningham
Eunice b 1760;m. Henry Newell
*James b 6 Oct 1762
Stephen b 15 Dec 1764; d 23 May 1826;m.....1. Sarah Hinckley;m..2 Mary Larkin
Archelaus b 19 Aug 1766; d Feb 1836; b 19 Aug 1766;m. Prudence Hamilton
Hannah b 1 Mar 1758;m. 1. Daniel Vincent; m..2. ___ Coffin


[where you see * on the list of children this denotes a direct ancestor of my family]

FOUR GENERATIONS

This is an introduction of me and the three generations preceeding me (yes, I am the baby on my father’s knee in this 1930’s photograph). All will be seen in more detail from time to time.
.
Barbara Mae (VanAmburg) Delorey : more than you want to know is on my web page www.barbmvd.com
Robert Archibald VanAmburg: b. 6 Nov 1904 Clarks Harbor, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia; d 22 Jul 1991, Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Ruth (Smith) Nickerson : b 2 Jun 1848 at West Head, Cape Sable Island; d 23 Oct 1939
James Lendall Nickerson: b 16 May 1847; d 5 Sep 1940 in Clarks Harbor

Ruth and James were affectionately known as Aunt Ruth and Uncle Lenny, a source of puzzlement for a very young great-granddaughter! Uncle Lenny owned the Sea View Hotel and was a longtime postmaster in Clarks Harbor, Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia . . . much more to come about them and the Nickerson branch..

AND I RECALL:

Funny how memories are triggered - working on the computer to examine an enlarged photograph reminded me of a very young ME, helping Dad develop film and to print photographs in a cellar darkroom in our Whitney Rd, Medford home. Dad was an avid photographer, and the chemical process of developing and printing films was fascinating to me.The room was in the corner, next to the coal bin, long benches on each side with trays of chemicals, the big enlarger at one end. As the process began, the light in the room was changed to the one with the red bulb - it seemed like magic to watch. I can still see it!

DOROTHY (JAMES) NICKERSON

DOROTHY (JAMES) NICKERSON
b 1776 in Ballyshannon, Ireland; she d 5 Oct 1870 aged 94 years
[This story is from the writings of Converse Ennis Nickerson, (son of Thomas, grandson of John & Dorothy Nickerson and a cousin of my Nana VanAmburg):]

Several legends are told about Dorothy James, or “Grandmother Dolly” as she was lovingly called. Her father was said to be a colonel in the English army and was last heard of in the East Indies. Grandmother Dolly came over here at the time of the Loyalists with a young couple who took up their residence in Shelburne. She was acting as a servant girl for them, and met with much ill treatment at their hands. It was their custom to often fasten her with a chain to a huge log in the yard.
One day, while they were away, she induced a blacksmith to remove the chain and she set out a-foot towards Barrington. On reaching a place called Line’s Beach, just opposite Johns Island, she met John Nickerson. They were soon married, settling at Woods Harbor, and later they moved to Newellton.
Born in Ballyshannon, Ireland, Grandmother Dolly was a typical woman of her race and her wit and cheer beamed as the sunshine upon all who knew her. She smoked a white clay pipe and my father (Thomas Nickerson) has often told me of filling and lighting it for her. She slept between two feather beds, and was baptized down at the Kenny wharf in a dory that was filled with water, just about 10 days before she died. So she died a good old fashioned Baptist, and coming from the Northern part of Ireland she was born a Protestant.
I have inscribed a bit of verse to the romance of her marrriage:
GRANDMOTHER DOLLY
Fate the story surely planned
In Ballyshannon, emerald strand,---
For I’ve heard of her so bright
With her Irish cap so white,
Her smile, her wit, her pipe, and kindly hand.

Thus, Granny Dolly long ago
Came to Novie’s shores and so
Ireland’s maiden made her home,
Never from its shore to roam,
Her affections and her duties here to grow.

‘Twas a romance by the sea,
Sweet and handsome as could be, ---
For oh the courtin’ and the joy
And her love for Johnny Boy.---
Helped to grow the many branches on the Nickerson Tree!
C.E.N.

POST-SCRIPT - BEFORE? & AFTER

As I scanned and examined more photographs last evening a small unidentified one took on new meaning when magnified. Several factors - dating “costume” which includes clothing & accessories, hair lines including facial hair, and comparing body and facial proportions, led to my looking at known data. There is a very strong possibility, in my opinion, that this is Joseph and Margaret (Grant) Delorey who married in 1867 at age 22, and whose family portrait (yesterday) showed the couple at age 47. Do you see what I see?

And here is Joseph in later life. It was taken in the early 192s, a few years prior to his demise. The beard has been abandoned for a more stylish mustache, but the elderly blacksmith still has a vigorous stance.

TWIGS and BRANCHES

As I begin this new path of a random look at the twigs and branches on the family tree, the operative word is random. No chronological order as we skip from decade to decade (and branch, limb and twig). . . . and so we begin!

JOSEPH DELOREY (1845-1925)

A blacksmith, he wore a gold coin on his watch chain - given him by Gen. U.S. Grant for shoeing his horse in North Weymouth, at Palaces(?) blacksmith shop on North Street.
He was a blacksmith at Bradley’s Fertilizer Plant, Weymouth, Massachusetts; Boston & Maine RR 1908-11. In Nashua he resided at 36 Canal Street in 1911. Marie DeLorey recalls “Uncle Joe coming to 80 Norton Street in Weymouth every fourth of July holiday for many years - he was living in Brookline then with 2 nieces of his second wife, Kate Gorman... He died at St Elizabeths Hospital and was buried in New Hampshire.

JOSEPH DELOREY
Born 5 Jan 1845 Tracadie, Antigonish, Nova Scotia Died 1925 Boston, Massachusetts
married 21 May 1867 in Tracadie to Margaret Grant
MARGARET (GRANT) DELOREY
Born 17 March 1845 Tracadie, she died of consumption in Nashua, New Hampshire
She was the daughter of Donald & Catherine (McDonald) Grant who were married 23 Nov 1843 St Georges, Cape Breton.
Their children in this family portrait - 1892 :
William Lewis 16 Apr 1869 - 9 Apr 1947 m. Emelie Jodoin
John Grant 4 Jun 1870
Charles Ruben 19 Dec 1872 - 1946 m. Bertha Thompson
Nancy Laura 5 Apr 1874 m. Ernest Cooper Beaumont
Joseph Daniel 26 Jun 1875 m. Margaret Kingston
Mary Lena 3 Dec 1877 - Nov 1966 m. David C. Jarvis
Catherine Jane 19 Aug 1881 m. ? Sullivan
Joseph 19 Mar 1887

I'M BACK . . . . . and Going in another Direction

It has been much too long, and I have been much too busy going in 10 directions at the same time. To make a long story short, I have been organizing slides, photographs and genealogical information and in the process, coming across documents of all sorts, miscellaneous stuff, lots of miscellaneous stuff!
I am getting old, and there is so much that could disappear and so much that might be of interest to the offspring of those I am going to talk-a-bout from here on in.
The family names are far too numerous to list. The pictures, anecdotes and data you will find here pertain to my ancestry (VanAmburg & Blanchard) to start and to that of my late husband (Delorey & Sewell).
The method will be to talk about a family group, husband, wife, children, include a photograph if I have one.I will not include the current live generations though. Comments, additions and corrections (and photographs if you have them) will be welcomed - send by email to barbmvd@att.net
And look for this new direction . . . .TOMORROW!!